Jared Gaither's injury is minor, trade is "very likely"

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on May 9, 2010, 11:47 AM EST

The clearest indication that Jared Gaither eventually will be leaving the Ravens came when Michael Oher was moved from right tackle to left tackle. Clearly, the Ravens believe that the 2009 first-round pick, who filled in for Gaither last season due to injury, can capably handle the shift — and possibly become the franchise’s next Jonathan Ogden.

With the Bills wanting Gaither badly and a minicamp unfolding this weekend in Baltimore, the Ravens wisely have kept Gaither out of action. If the team has decided that he won’t be around moving forward, there’s no reason for him to prepare with the other lineman, and there’s likewise no reason to expose him to injury. As Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun reports, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron went out of his way to praise Oniel Cousins, who will play right tackle if/when Gaither goes.

Per Hensley, Gaither again is not on the field for the third and final day of the mandatory minicamp. We’re told that Gaither’s supposed injury is “minor,” and that a trade remains “very likely.”

It could be that the Ravens want more than what the Bills are willing to send to Baltimore, and that the Ravens are hoping to get another team to come to the table in the hopes of driving up the price.

If the Bills don’t get him, will their whiny owner try to act like they didn’t want him either?
Take your team to Toronto full time and be done with it.

jts28 says:May 9, 2010 12:03 PM

As a Ravens fan, I’m not nearly as excited about this trade idea after the draft. I agree with trading Gaither, because we aren’t going to re-sign him after the season anyway. But we need to get a quality player in return, hopefully a starting-caliber corner, because this is a team that is built for a Super Bowl run now. A pick in next years draft, even a high second-rounder, won’t be as valuable as having Gaither for this season. I can’t clear the image of LaMarr Woodley owning Oneil Cousins, costing us a win, from my mind.

habibfromnewdehli says:May 9, 2010 12:09 PM

This is just the Ravens way of providing Joe Flacco with another excuse when/if he still has trouble:
1. Reading defenses and recognizing where the blitz is coming from.
2. Seeing where receiver WILL BE and not where the receiver IS.
3. Throwing a jump ball in the endzone, as oppose to a bullet 8 feet above the receiver.
Not to say Flacco can’t end up being good. But if he doesn’t improve from these last two years, they Ravens (and the blind fans) will just point to the line and say the protection wasn’t good enough.
And just think… what if Flacco ends up getting injured because of protection? And then… Troy Smith comes in and starts winning games with those new receivers they got. Then they have a QB controversy on their hands!
Seriously Baltimore… if you were going to let the defense slip into as bad of shape as it is, you really shouldn’t trade Gaither as you’re going to need that offense to out-score teams this year. You’re not going to win by shutting down teams and hoping your offense can score 2 TDs the entire game.

brawltimore says:May 9, 2010 12:13 PM

I know Bills fans will rage cuz they don’t want to lose one of their best players, but I won’t be happy with this trade unless we get Leodis McKelvin or Reggie Corner and a 2nd or 3rd.
The Ravens are built to win now with only one glaring hole at corner.
..and I sure as hell hope Cousins is as read as they think he is.

mzezulak says:May 9, 2010 12:22 PM

I’m sure the Bears would offer a day three draft pick

wild_eagle says:May 9, 2010 12:24 PM

Philly should trade for him and move him to RT then move Winston justice to RG solidifying the offensive line

Billsfan8321 says:May 9, 2010 12:32 PM

leodis and a 2nd is crazy but reggie corner and a 3rd ok

Taxlaw26 says:May 9, 2010 12:35 PM

Habib –
Mike Brown takes a lot of heat in the Queen city, but he must be doing something right if there are bitter Bengals fans all the way over in New Delhi.

7370355q$ says:May 9, 2010 12:48 PM

@habibfromnewdehli Yeah the Ravens are clearly going out of their way to trade a starting left tackle in an effort to create excuses for Flacco’s lack of development. Flacco clearly had a better year his 2nd than his first with injuries coming week 4 against Minnesota and having Derrick Mason as his number 1 receiver! The Ravens defense is not slipping, Mount Cody is getting in shape to the point where he will play all three downs of a series and leapfrog the current starter on the roster, and Kindle is playing just as well. Typical of you to not know what is going on while you are the one who is blind.

John Harbaugh's Dad says:May 9, 2010 12:53 PM

Do my weary eyes decieve me? Did Florio actually just write a post including Michael Oher’s name that doesn’t refer to ‘the blind side’ a single time? Well done, sir. Maybe there is hope for humaity after all.

QJ1984 says:May 9, 2010 1:38 PM

Seriously, at this point they might as well just keep him. If this years draft class was the strongest in over a decade, next years will be the weakest. The Ravens track record is strong but even they have had terrible drafts when the talent pool has dwindled.
If the Ravens are dumb enough to move Gaither right now, I guarantee they will be searching for a replacement for him in the draft next year or the year after. There is no one behind him capable of being a starting tackle, let alone filling Gaither’s shoes.
This reminds me of last year when they let Stover walk in favor of Haushcka. That sure worked out well. So, well that Haushcka literally lost games for the team and was cut midway through the season.

raybow33 says:May 9, 2010 1:46 PM

Leodis and a pick you people are frickin out your mind, you’ll be lucky to get the pick ,be happy with that. ooh and sullijo if your’e a Ravens fan we will be moving to Toronto probably in the middle of the nite like your’e chicken sh** owner once did!

JOldewurtel says:May 9, 2010 1:47 PM

# Billsfan8321 says: May 9, 2010 12:32 PM
leodis and a 2nd is crazy but reggie corner and a 3rd ok
—————————————————–
yeah, i guess trading a nickelback and a 3rd rd pick is ok for a 24 year old franchise LT.
the trade better be Jairus Byrd and a 2nd… minimum.
i would love to see OT Jared Gaither, WR Demetrius Williams and LB Jason Phillips to the Bills for S Jairus Byrd, 2011 2nd and 2012 3rd. the bills want him bad…right?

zibit says:May 9, 2010 1:55 PM

Habib…i have read lots of your posts and you talk out of both sides of your mouth. (I do think we should keep Gaither though.)
But have you ever seen Troy Smith play? Or seen a live ravens game?? He is horribly inaccurate and doesn’t have the ability to make most of the sideline throws the ravens have lived off of the last two years. His arm strength is decent, but his mechanics don’t allow him to make those throws. He’s also not much taller than ray rice despite what nfl.com says.
Also, how do you throw a jump ball to two 5’10 receiver being covered by a 6’0 corner with a better vertical?? bullets are the only throws that wont be intercepted. seemed to me flacco threw some nice jump balls to Heap.
And finally the Coryell system the Ravens use is a timing offense, which means if Flacco never threw on rythmn he wouldnt have completed 63% of his passes this year.

Leroy'sButler says:May 9, 2010 2:24 PM

I’m sure the Bears would offer a day three draft pick
No, they’ll probably offer a 2nd round pick after which Gaither will drop dead.

lakedog19352 says:May 9, 2010 2:26 PM

wild_eagle…..trading for Gaither and moving Justice to RG will solidify the Eagles O-Line? Seriously? Are you for real?

ppdoc13 says:May 9, 2010 2:38 PM

@habib – that was a pretty stupid comment. let’s see. Flacco has more playoff wins in two years that Matt Ryan and Carson Palmer put together. He is in the top 5 in NFL history for passing yards for a QB in his first two years. And that is with a receiving corps which everyone including Ravens fans will admit sucked ding dong. Now he is throwing to Boldin, Stallworth and Mason who went from being the number one to the second or third option. Care to guess how many catches he gets on the slot cb as opposed to the number one cb when he was averaging over 80 a year matched up against each teams best? know what you are talking about before you talk. you only show your stupidity. and btw – just on general principals STFU.

Ravenmuscle says:May 9, 2010 2:41 PM

A trade may well be very likely but who would want the lazy piece of crap?

FriedChicken says:May 9, 2010 3:18 PM

Skins can Trade Fat Al for Jare Gaither?

DaleDoback says:May 9, 2010 3:37 PM

brawltimore,
McKelvin is a borderline premiere corner and return man, with 3 years left on his contract. explain to me why it would make sense to trade a guy like this, with a contract like his, for Gaither? yes, he’s a solid LT and would contribute to shoring up the line, but this doesn’t make any sense from a business standpoint.

7370355q$ says:May 9, 2010 4:06 PM

@DaleDoback Gaither was a 5th round supplemental draft pick and is earning the league minimum which I believe is $550,000. It would make a lot of sense from a business standpoint.

wwwmattcom says:May 9, 2010 4:35 PM

Donte Whitner straight up for Gaither. After all gaither is currently coming off an injury and a listed RIGHT TACKLE. Should have traded him before his stock fell with the RT designation.
McKelvin IS a premeir corner. McKelvin and McGee on both sides with Byrd/Scott, the Bills have what it takes to defend the pass.
If you think Buffalo should jsut move to Toronto already consider yourself a numbskull a$$ hole.

evdent says:May 9, 2010 4:42 PM

Also, to the Ravens fans, why would the Bills ever give up Jairus Byrd? The guy who tied for the league lead in INTs last year? Almost won Rookie of the Year? You’re gonna be disappointed if you’re expecting that back for Gaither. The Bills didn’t address the line in the draft with any top picks so I doubt they’d give a top pick+ a top player for Gaither

evdent says:May 9, 2010 4:43 PM

that being said I really want Gaither on the Bills. but not for Byrd.

coz says:May 9, 2010 4:55 PM

give them corner, youboty, possibly mcgee but no byrd or mckelvin, sorry

bills83 says:May 9, 2010 5:20 PM

You guys can have Reggie Corner!! 2nd and corner im sold.

Flex20 says:May 9, 2010 5:20 PM

I’m a huge Ravens fan, but come on guys! You have to know Mckelvin and Byrd become off limits when you toss in picks. It’s either a pick or a top player for Gaither and I think Mckelvin is unfortunatly untouchable regardless! At this point I don’t see a trade happening w/ the Bills. They don’t have enough talent or fire power to strike a deal.
With the 2nd overall pick in the 2011 draft the Bills select a LT.

Boss Hog says:May 9, 2010 5:31 PM

# JOldewurtel says: May 9, 2010 1:47 PM
# Billsfan8321 says: May 9, 2010 12:32 PM
leodis and a 2nd is crazy but reggie corner and a 3rd ok
—————————————————–
yeah, i guess trading a nickelback and a 3rd rd pick is ok for a 24 year old franchise LT.
the trade better be Jairus Byrd and a 2nd… minimum.
i would love to see OT Jared Gaither, WR Demetrius Williams and LB Jason Phillips to the Bills for S Jairus Byrd, 2011 2nd and 2012 3rd. the bills want him bad…right?
hey retard. he is not a franchise left tackle. if he was….why would the ravens draft oher and move gaither to right tackle? take your blinders off. you guys will be lucky to get youboty and a 4th.

DaleDoback says:May 9, 2010 5:37 PM

7370355,
The point is, Gaither has one year left on his contract. Accordingly, any team that trades for him is going to have to resign him within the next year. Do you have any idea what kind of money he will command at that point? Close to $10m a year is probably a decent guess. Considering this, the bills would be insane to give up mckelvin, pick or no pick, for gaither. You have to lo
ok at his upcoming contract as a liability.

60minuteassassin says:May 9, 2010 7:05 PM

@jts28 says:
May 9, 2010 12:03 PM
As a Ravens fan, I’m not nearly as excited about this trade idea after the draft. I agree with trading Gaither, because we aren’t going to re-sign him after the season anyway. But we need to get a quality player in return, hopefully a starting-caliber corner, because this is a team that is built for a Super Bowl run now. A pick in next years draft, even a high second-rounder, won’t be as valuable as having Gaither for this season. I can’t clear the image of LaMarr Woodley owning Oneil Cousins, costing us a win, from my mind.
———————————-
I could have posted this myself. My sentiments exactly.

Boss Hog says:May 9, 2010 7:47 PM

the ravens moved him to right tackle correct? in what world does a right tackle command a 10 million a year contract. not going to happen……….yet. i think the ravens end up keeping him and he plays right tackle.

SteveInThe716 says:May 9, 2010 8:17 PM

We don’t want him just like we did not want Tebow…… B.S.

SteveInThe716 says:May 9, 2010 8:19 PM

We’ll trade you Ralph Wilson…. And the coffin he’ll be in hopefully sooner than later!!!! Please die Ralph and do Buffalo a favor!!!!

UBBALLER8 says:May 9, 2010 10:15 PM

Anyone who thinks the Ravens are getting Byrd or McKelvin is on hallucinogenic drugs.
Those guys are without a doubt untouchable.

FLORIO'S a HOMerrr O says:May 10, 2010 6:31 AM

Come on fellow Raven fans, we are not getting McKelvin & a 2nd for Jared Gaither… I do disagree that his value is now hurt because the Ravens moved him to RT during day 1 of Mini-Camp. Gaither now has 2 seasons under his belt as a starter at LT. And if the Bills do trade for Gaither it will be to play LT. The reason why the Bills are attracted to Gaither is because of his enormous potential which he is yet to realize. I mean the guy is 6’9″ 360 lb’s. Is he a “franchise” tackle yet? No. If the Bills trade for him, is that what they are projecting? Absolutely. The problem with Gaither from the Ravens standpoint has more to do with work ethic & toughness rather than the physical tools reqiured to be a stalwart LT. From what I’ve heard the Ravens are fed up with him embellishing injuries, not being more comitted to the off-season strength & conditioning program & making the same technique based mistakes, time & again (which again comes back to work ethic.) With that being said, I think the Ravens will come away with a 2nd round pick at best. And if they get a 2nd there will be no additional compensation going to the Ravens. My guess is they want a corner in return. If they do come away with a corner, most likely it would be McGee. To balance the deal the Bills would probably have to throw in a 5th or 6th rounder. But the notion that the Ravens will come out of this with Mckelvin & a 2nd is patently rediculous. The only way the Ravens would be able to get that type of value is if Gaither were already an established “franchise” LT, but then again, at that point why trade him?

Meldog says:May 10, 2010 4:19 PM

What is up with the posts about the Bills wanting players “badly”….all the other teams seem to show “interest”, but for some reason when the Bills are looking to pick up a player the reporting makes us sound like a bunch of teenage boys watching the hottest chick in school bend over to pick up a book. Gaither has value and he has a price, if his price doesn’t match his value then the Bills should say FU and look elsewhere. I can’t beleive there are people out there that think the Bills will trade Byrd and a draft pick for an injured player who is being replaced on his current team.

ejtowne says:May 10, 2010 6:08 PM

To: steveinthe716- You are an idiot! If it wasn’t for Ralph Wilson NOBODY i mean NOBODY would be watching their beloved team because there would be NO NFL!!! The guy helped create the NFL you watch today!! As for your screen name you are a true discrace to wear the area code 716 better change it or relocate to another town, 716 is where the TRUE BUFFALO FANS live!!!! Said by A TRUE BILLS FAN who stands by his or her team through the good or bad, through the glory or the shit!

NomNoms says:May 11, 2010 1:11 PM

@ ejtowne. I get the impression your a little slow ?? no??

K says:May 11, 2010 10:39 PM

You people are crazy if you think any team will give up a former overall 11 pick starting CB and a 2nd rounder for a LT in the final year or 2 of his contract. The best the Ravens can do is a nickle back with potential like Reggie Corner and a 3rd or 4th AT BEST!!!! get real